WITH THE theme “Heralding Hope and Transformation,” this year’s Loyola Schools Awards for Leadership and Service (LSALS) not only recognized individuals who excelled in such, but also featured the debut of the commissioning of student leaders.
Assistant to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs Cholo Mallillin said that they included the commissioning because it is one of the best ways to show the transfer of leadership and service.
The LSALS was held last March 7 at the Leong Hall Auditorium.
Passing on the torch
Office of Student Activities Director Chris Castillo said that while the LSALS is an annual occasion, over time, it seemed like just any other awarding event. The challenge then was to find more ways to concretize the event’s theme.
“We decided to have a turnover ceremony wherein I told the outgoing leaders to bring one symbolic thing that they would want to leave to their successors,” said Castillo, explaining the commissioning.
Mallillin added that simply recognizing these students for their service and leadership is not enough. “Recognition is meaningless without the honor and responsibility being passed on to the next set of leaders,” he said.
Representing the athletes, John Ezekiel Valera passed on the St. Ignatius trophy to Carlos Xavier Soriano. Representing the student organizations, former Council of Organizations of the Ateneo (COA) President Jemika Soledad passed on an envelope containing memorabilia of COA events and other important documents to new COA President Ken Abante.
Finally, representing the student body, former Sanggunian President Rob Roque passed on a journal and a calendar to new Sanggunian President Drew Copuyoc.
Aside from the commissioning, another highlight of the event was the farewell tribute of different Atenean organizations to former University President Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, SJ.
Awardees of leadership and service
The individuals and groups who best exemplified the Atenean ideal of being men and women for others were conferred with the different LSALS prizes.
Health sciences graduate and batch 2011 valedictorian Geminn Louis Apostol was conferred the Most Outstanding Individual award for his efforts in Gawad Kalinga, his work as a health center assistant in Barangay Bagong Silang, his role as an English literature teacher for Alay ni Ignacio and his establishment of a supplemental feeding program in collaboration with Lingap Pangkabataan,
“I was overwhelmed with the award because my involvement was mostly outside of school,” said Apostol in Filipino. “I believe that Ateneans now are [venturing outside of school] and I just hope that they would still continue to serve the nation.”
The Most Outstanding Project was awarded to Camp Math of the Ateneo Mathematics Society (AMS). It is a four-Saturday event composed of talks, tours and seminars for private high school students in Metro Manila. AMS President Stella Salvo said that the profits they earned from seminars were used for Math Saya, an event held for public high school students.
A special citation was also given to the apostolate area of Musmos, an organization that aims to help children in Katipunan and Cubao reach their potential through skills training, values formation and leadership training.
The Company of Ateneo Dancers (CADS), meanwhile, was recognized as the Most Outstanding Student Group for their socio-civic efforts in partnership with Lingap Pangkabataan.
“I just want to tell everyone that even if it seems that social involvement is remote to your core competency, you can still make your passion work towards being in service of others,” said CADS President Natalia Erika Daffon.
Mallillin said he is happy with the lineup of awardees this year. “Most of the awardees [focused their efforts] outside school events, and I am glad that the community now recognizes their efforts.”
Aside from the LSALS, other awards were also given out during the occasion. To honor outstanding athletes, The GUIDON – Moro Lorenzo Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year and the Ambrosio Padilla Athlete of the Year awards were conferred on deserving student athletes who exemplified the Atenean ideal of mens sana in corpore sano—a sound mind in a sound body.
Bridging the gap
Keynote speaker Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, SJ, said that although it has always been a struggle to celebrate a brand of excellence that is connected to service for the country, he is glad to have seen the efforts of all the individuals and groups nominated for the LSALS.
He also said that poverty in the Philippines is not just due to the lack of resources, but also to a lack of caring for others. “I would like to congratulate all nominees and awardees… This is an occasion to celebrate [your] ability to engage with the poor [and to] bridge the very disconnected world of the Philippine society.”
“You have not just learned excellence but you have also placed your heart for service,” Nebres said.
